An Expedition from Kashgar to Lhasa

Retrace the path of ancient traders and adventurers on this comprehensive overland journey across Western China. Experience the legendary Kashgar Sunday Animal Market, where merchants sell everything from ducks to sheep. Make your way east to visit Turpan’s lush Grape Valley, watered by a 2,000-year-old irrigation system, and Dunhuang’s UNESCO-listed Mogao Caves, frescoed and carved with a thousand images of the Buddha. Ride the high-altitude train from Xining to Tibet, and explore the Tibetan Plateau on a splendid route that embraces the sacred cities of Gyantse and Shigatse, as well as Lhasa, “City of the Sun.”

Skirt the Taklamakan Desert on camelback

Dunhuang, Western China

Browse the animal section at the Kashgar Sunday MarketBrowse the fantastic animal section at the Kashgar Sunday Market, where you can find anything from a herd of fat-tailed sheep to a single camel ready for a test drive....

Circumambulate the structural mandala of Samye MonasteryCircumambulate the structural mandala of Samye Monastery, built in the 8th century: the complex contains beautiful temples and stupas placed in specific sites...

Cultural Series programs focus on the people and traditions of the countries they explore and include fascinating interactive experiences, including visits to small towns and villages outside the major urban areas and capital cities. Accommodations are in charming, well-located and often locally-owned hotels and B&Bs. The maximum group size is 16 travelers.

Itinerary & Highlights at a Glance

Days 1-5: Kashgar, Turpan

Begin in 2,000-year-old Kashgar, the fabled city that greeted Marco Polo as he entered the Middle Kingdom. Browse its Sunday Animal Market, where locals purchase livestock for meat, milk, or transportation. Board an overnight train to Turpan, a welcome oasis on the northern Silk Road. The sweet wine grapes cultivated in Turpan are irrigated with a 2,000-year-old gravity-fed system. Explore the Bezeklik Thousand Buddha Caves, begun in 366 AD, and investigate the underground tombs of Astana.

Days 6-8: Train to Liu Yuan, Dunhuang

Depart by fast day train to the city of Liu Yuan, the gateway to Dunhuang, where the Mogao Buddhist Caves were created. Marvel at the incredible frescoes and painted statues of this UNESCO-listed wonder, and take a short camel ride at the foot of Echoing Sands Mountain.

Highlights

Mogao Thousand Buddha Caves, UNESCO World Heritage Site in Dunhuang

Bactrian camel ride at the southern edge of the Taklamakan Desert

Days 9-11: Xining, High-altitude railway

Catch the train to Xining, located high on the Tibetan Plateau in remote Qinghai Province. Admire the brilliant blues, golds and reds of Ta'er Monastery, and browse the grand Tibetan Medicine and Culture Museum with its fascinating collection of artifacts and information about ancient Tibet. Board the high-altitude train to Lhasa, passing by the world’s highest railroad station, Tangula.

Highlights

Buddhist Ta'er Monastery, with its Great Hall of the Golden Roof, constructed from hundreds of tiles with embedded precious gems

Tibetan Medicine and Culture Museum, documenting the history of ancient Tibet from 4,000 years ago

Days 12-18: Lhasa, Yamdrok Lake, Gyantse, Shigatse

Spend a night in Lhasa before continuing to Gyantse’s celebrated Kumbum Stupa and turquoise Yamdrok Lake, said to be a goddess incarnate. In Shigatse, discover gold-roofed Tashilhunpo Monastery, founded by the first Dalai Lama in 1447. Back in Lhasa, visit the massive UNESCO-listed Potala Palace, rising in splendor above the city, and Jokhang Temple, Tibet's most sacred site. Wander Barkhor Market, bargaining for yak-wool boots or Tibetan fur hats. Venture into the valley where Chupsang Nunnery is hidden, then celebrate the journey's end with a festive farewell dinner in Lhasa.

Highlights

Sacred turquoise Yamdrok Lake, a place of pilgrimage

Gyantse, almost two and a half miles high

15th century Kumbum Stupa, a fabled shrine and place of Tibetan Buddhist pilgrimage

Cultural Series programs focus on the people and traditions of the countries they explore and include fascinating interactive experiences, including visits to small towns and villages outside the major urban areas and capital cities. Accommodations are in charming, well-located and often locally-owned hotels and B&Bs. The maximum group size is 16 travelers.

2019 Dates

Group Size

What’s Included

On Your Tour

Shared accommodations in well-located superior tourist-class hotels in the major cities and best available hotels elsewhere. See notes below regarding accommodations on board the sleeper trains.

Tibetan travel permit fee.

17 breakfasts, 16 lunches, and 17 dinners.

Restaurant tips for included meals.

Services of an experienced, English-speaking MIR Tour Manager with local guides at specific sites.

Arrival/departure transfers. MIR will arrange for all travelers to be met on arrival and seen off on departure whether we make your airfare arrangements or not, provided you arrive and depart on the tour start/end dates in the tour start/end cities.

Ground transportation throughout itinerary by private coach or van (size of vehicle depends on group size)

Train tickets, overnight sleeper trains Kashgar-Turpan and Xining-Lhasa. (Up to four travelers per compartment, sharing with other group members. Shared compartments may be of mixed sexes as is the standard on trains in this region.)

Train ticket, day train Turpan-Liu Yuan (for access to Dunhuang).

Train ticket, day train Liu Yuan-Xining (when departing Dunhuang).

Guided sightseeing tours and entrance fees as outlined in itinerary.

Special events, excursions and cultural performances per the itinerary.

Cultural Series programs focus on the people and traditions of the countries they explore and include fascinating interactive experiences, including visits to small towns and villages outside the major urban areas and capital cities. Accommodations are in charming, well-located and often locally-owned hotels and B&Bs. The maximum group size is 16 travelers.

Prepare for Your Trip

International Airfare

MIR's in-house, full-service air department will gladly assist with your air travel needs.

Travel Insurance

Stay a Little Longer…

MIR can arrange for an extended program in China, Tibet, or Siberia. All of MIR’s destinations are open to you, and all can be attached to this program. Please contact MIR for more details about exciting options for extended travel.

Is this Trip Right for You?

While the accommodations are as comfortable as possible, they will vary from superior tourist class hotels to very basic and simple accommodations. Western China and Tibet may not be up to the standards North American travelers expect.

A full list of details about the rigors of this tour are explained in the Detailed Descriptive Itinerary.

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